It was like something out of a horror movie. A mother from North Carolina goes missing and ends up dismembered in an alligator infested swamp in Texas. Laura Ackerson and the father of her children, Grant Hayes, were embroiled in a heated custody battle over their two young sons. Grant's new wife, Amanda, who had a baby daughter of her own with Grant, was also at odds with Laura about the ongoing custody dispute. Prosecutors say Grant and Amanda lured Laura to their apartment in Raleigh, killed her, and then dismembered her body with an electric saw. They then carried her remains in coolers in the back of a rental truck to Texas where they dumped them in a swamp near Amanda's sister's home. In this episode, the prosecutor walks us through the complex case investigators were able to build against the killer couple. We also hear from the forensic scientist who was able to all but guarantee their conviction with a single saw mark on a her bone.

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It's been three months...three months since Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have seen their mother, Nancy Guthrie. Investigators believe the 84-year-old was kidnapped from her Tucson, Arizona home in the middle of the night from her bed. Despite a massive search, surveillance video of the suspect, a one million dollar reward, and unprecedented national media attention, no one has been able to find Nancy. Up until now, we've only heard from Savannah Guthrie on short social media clips. This past week she sat down with her dear friend and colleague, retired veteran anchor Hoda Kotb who has been filling in for Savannah in her absence. In this episode, we break down the extended version of this interview-what Savannah reveals about the investigation, her unbreakable bond with her siblings, how her mother is a shinining example of strength and faith for her children. She also asks once again for anyone who knows anything to come forward. At times heartbreaking, but also hopeful, Savannah is poised and resolute vowing not to allow the kidnappers to steal her joy or that of her family. She is set to return to the Today Show on April 6. She shares with Hoda that she doesn't know how she will do it because she has been forever changed by the tragedy, but she is willing to try.

22-year-old Cole Thomas disappeared in Benson, North Carolina on November 25, 2016. It was like he simply vanished without a trace. He was an electrical contractor and the crew members he was traveling with all had different stories about what may have happened to Cole. One consistent thread was that there was a drug deal that went bad and Cole left the car never to be seen again. A massive search of wooded areas and swamplands in the area turned up no clues. Cole's parents immediately drove from Florida to North Carolina to help with the search, but nothing was found. Cole's father, Chris Thomas, believes his son is dead. He had hoped that one of the men Cole was with would at least tell them where Cole's body is. In this episode, we unpack the details of this decade long cold case with Chris who has been conducting his own investigation. We also check in with Benson's police chief who handled the case back when he was on the street. Our goal is that by keeping the case in the public eye someone will come forward with information that could lead to justice for Cole and much needed answers for his family.

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